Nintendo Switch in the wrong type of dock as Joy-Con controllers slapped with lawsuit

The Nintendo Switch might be the year’s must-buy console, but that doesn’t mean it’s all plain sailing for the Japanese gaming giant – as a new lawsuit aimed at the multinational proves.

Accessory maker Gamesvice recently began legal proceedings against the company, filing a lawsuit against Nintendo that alleges the Switch’s removable Joy-Con controllers violate a patent acquired by the comparatively diminutive firm when it was developing the Wikipad.

The suit argues that the Joy-Con’s design is too similar to one of Gamesvice’s early Wikipad concepts, which envisaged a detachable games controller working together with a device featuring a “flexible bridge section.”

But patent banter aside, what’s really interesting about the lawsuit is how much is at stake – Gamesvice is calling not only for damages, but a sweeping ban on Switch sales.

Those who enjoy a nice bit of litigation with their coffee can read the full complaint here.

While it’s unlikely to materialise, such a prohibition would no doubt dampen many a Christmas this year, so if you’re the paranoid type or are the proud owned of a particularly bratty child, you might want to snap up one of these great Nintendo Switch deals today.

In the end, the Wikipad came to life as the Wikipad 7 – a fairly straightforward gaming-focussed Android tablet that we thought was pretty tripe when we reviewed it at launch back in 2013.